American Pharoah one of 35 invited to 48th Haskell

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Oceanport, NJ (SportsNetwork.com) - Triple Crown champ American Pharoah is one of 35 3-year-olds invited to attend this year's 48th Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.

The 1 1/8-mile Haskell, with a $1 million purse, will be conducted on Sunday, Aug. 2.

American Pharoah, owned and bred by Zayat Stables, became the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years when he captured the Belmont Stakes by 5 1/2 lengths on June 6. Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Victor Espinoza, American Pharoah is the 12th 3-year-old to sweep the Triple Crown, which also includes the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

Zayat Stables' Paynter won the 2012 Haskell and Baffert saddled Bayern in capturing last year's renewal. The Hall of Fame trainer has won Monmouth's signature race seven times.

Dortmund, another 3-year-old from Baffert's barn, has also been invited. The colt's owner Kaleem Shah owns last year's winner Bayern as well. Dortmund won this year's Santa Anita Derby and was third in the Run for the Roses.

Here is the complete list of invitees: American Pharoah, Firing Line, Mr. Z, Blofeld, Frammento, Ocho Ocho Ocho, Carpe Diem, Frosted, Prospect Park, Classy Class, Gimme Da Lute, Souper Colossal, Competitive Edge, Island Town, Stanford, Conquest Curlinate, Japan, Tale of Verve, Danish Dynaformer, Keen Ice, Tekton, Divining Rod, Kentuckian, Tencendur, Donworth, Madefromlucky, Texas Red, Dortmund, March, Upstart, Fame and Power, Materiality, War Story, Far Right and Mr. Jordan.

The winner of the Haskell gains an automatic berth in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic on Oct. 31 at Keeneland.